West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-11-18

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be allowed to speakY Then, with
slow entreaty came, "Will you let
me speak, Sheriff Matson?" There
was another agonizing pause. Muf-
fed through the shroud broke out in
unnatural, hollow accents, "Let the
voice of the people be heard"
THE DROP FALLS.
A crash as of "a falling house
thundered through the corridors
The slender ropes were cut. In full
view of two hundred men in front
were the four white writhing shrouds
The ropes could be seen slowly
Tightening about the necks, that be-
tween cap and shroud could be no.
ticed blackening and purpling.
Nine minutes passed. Then it was
known to a certainty that not neck,
except Engers had been broken; the
others had been strangled. The
pulses of all stopped beating in l3t
minutes.
There was a vast crowd on the
streets and a large force of police
armed with repeating rifles were on
duty. Perfect quiet was preserved.
The people were kept moving and
were not allowed to congregate in
masses at any one place.
Shortly after the jury pronounced
the men dead, the bodies were de-
livered to their friends. They were
buried next day and 10000 people
followed them to their graves. In
New York and in some of the other
cities the Anarchists and kindred
organizations held meetings to con-
demn the hanging of Spies and his
comrades. The following extracts
from the Boston Globe of the
18th, giving report of the meet
ing in that city, sufficiently exhibits
the feeling displayed:
Extracts from the Globe.
The men and women who met in
New Era Hall last night were not
low-browed criminals or ignorant
slatterns, but many educated, intelli-
gent and well-dressed American cit
izens and ladies met to protest
against what they considered a
wrong, perpetrated under the name
of law, on men of earnest, but per-
haps misguided, purpose. All
shades of economic belief were pres.
ent from the Communists, who be-
lieve in the government owning ev-
erything; the State Socialist, who
believes in the government taking
possession Of the natural resources
of the country away to the other ex-
treme of the Anarchists or individ-
ualists who wish the individual to
be paramount and the State dissolv-
ed.
The hall was elaborately decorat-
ed. Some of the inscriptions were
as follows:
Humanity must die that monopo-
ly may live.
Justice. IT'S treason to love her
and death to defend.
The public be damned. Wander
bilt.
To kill is to reply.
To proclaim the truth now as ev-
er is crime punishable by death.
Truth forever on the scafOld.
Wrong forever on the throne.
This issue is between the indus
trial producer and the legalized
plunderers.
No mans labor for good is vain.
Though he win not the crown but
the cross.
American liberty. Born of indi
vidual manhood in Philadelphia,
1776. Crushed by Capitalistic Des-
potism in Chicago, 1887.
If the State can afford to hang
me. can afford to die.
A. r. PARSONS.
Toilers, the law is for the masters
and you are for the law.
What evil hath he done ? Why
cruelty him ?
We mourn labor's martyrs and
pledge ourselves to their principles.
The National Guard: Pinkertons.
Does despotism expect that prin-
ciples can be judicially murdered
$-monopoly's standard ofvirtue.
The United States government is
monopoly's efficient weapon.
The hall was packed to its capac-
ity, and the following is a fair sam
pie of the speeches made. Mr.. Hen
ry Appleton said:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.-I have
been life loEg opposer of physical
force and am here tonight because
under the cover of government one
of the most atrocious exhibitions Of
physical force that has ever dis
graced a nation has taken place in
this country to-day. (Great ap-
plause.) The statement that COM
munism ends in brute force has been
verified here today by the murder
of these five men, for our government
is nothing but communistic gov
ernment, for it is run by public opin-
ion. tremendous applause.
1t is public opinion that has mur-
dered these men, and when / see ny
German friends here tonight, who
are supposed to be stoical people,